For the Birds

Boaters aren't the only ones who flock to the sandbars at low tide. The sea bird population finds their meals served up and ready for the taking. While the human species seemed to gravitate to the eastern side of the bar this weekend, the feathered visitors line up on the western shore. They're not in favor of much integration - the locals on one side, vacationers on the other. Their boundaries are quite strict, and if that line is crossed they move on. But they do have quite a feast while they are there, and have been known to carry out quick in-and-out incursions into foreign territory to pick up tasty treats.

During our last visit we found the western shore of the sandbar populated by small black sea snails. Walking along the shore you could feel them moving under your feet, and walking a bit farther into the water took you through schools of tiny silver fishes. With an abundance of crabs and clams available, life was good for the sea gulls - fast food for the birds.

We´ll see you on the sandbar..

One of the most popular activities on a sunny summer's day - at least for those with access to a small craft - is "going out to the sandbar." It entails some planning and knowledge of the tide charts, for the available space on any sandbar decreases drastically with the high tide, and some disappear altogether. There's almost always someone who doesn't get it quite right and ends up beached as the tide goes down. The Barnegat Shoals have been known for centuries as a great place to run aground, and towing services are always cruising the area looking for clients.
"Going out to the sandbar" means packing up the coolers, the kids, the dogs, the horseshoes and frizbees, sandchairs and other beach equipment, and heading out at just the right time to stake your claim to some waterfront property - while leaving the boat adaquately anchored to allow for a smooth exit when the time comes. There is no required activity - just sunning and swimming and socializing.
You can also get to enjoy the bayside view of the island and of Old Barney guarding the Inlet.

The Interpretive Center

I've gotten back on the roster, and completed my first shift, as a volunteer at the Interpretive Center in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Volunteers keep track of attendance in the Center, answer questions, keep the background music playing, etc. It's a cool place to spend a hot afternoon, and well stocked with books on lighthouses and local history. I enjoy my 3 hour shifts, greeting visitors and learning more each day about the island and lighthouses in NJ, and around the country.

We have a monitor with live feeds from the top of the lighthouse. Those who can not - or choose not to - climb the 217 steps to the top can enjoy the views, north, south, east and west, from the air conditioned comfort of the Interpretive Center.

Other panels provide details on the history of Barnegat Lighthouse, the ecology of barrior islands and a typical day in the life of a lighthouse keeper.

We have a model of the keepers' house which once stood at the base of Old Barney, but was lost to erosion by the waves. There were three separate quarters in the house for the 3 keepers and their families. It required 3 eight-hour shifts to keep the light burning 24 hours a day.

And there is our "beach buggy" free for use by those who cannot walk through the sand on their own. Any visit to the State Park is sure to be a bit more enjoyable - and educational - due to the efforts of the volunteer staff and the Interpretive Center.

There's more to it

For years, when people asked about the island I almost always said at some point that where we are in Barnegat Light there is a main street that runs down the center of the island and from there "one block to the bay and one block to the ocean".

Well, standing up on the turn-around of the nature trail really brought it home to me that the situation has changed drastically - at least here at 12th St. The "new" South Jetty has provided us with more area from the end of the street to the ocean than is encompassed in those two habitated blocks. (In this view the ocean is out there under the haze at the end of the dune grasses.)

It's a beautiful, natural area filling up with native, and new, vegetation and supporting a healthy bird population. There are plaques describing the red fox and garter snakes which also are native to the area ( the fox eats the snakes, by the way). I am content to say that I have run into neither of these residents on my walks.

As peaceful and quiet as the streets of Barnegat Light can be there is always another world just a block away which gives you a different perspective on the island and reminds you that there is definitely more to it than two blocks of homes.

Blessed Coolness

When you hear all the news about the record breaking heat wave on the eastern seaboard, just remember that here on our island we are at least 10 degrees or more cooler than the levels recorded in New York or Philadelphia. At night we have temperatures down in the 60's.

The cool water temperatures are saving us from the heat. When I walk up to the beach in the early morning I can feel the cool air before I arrive at the end of the street, and am glad to be wearing a long sleeved top. We have had a more or less permanent fog/haze for the last couple of days as a result of the hot land temperatures meeting the cold water temperatures. It's not good news for swimmers - who report they can't get into the water, but it's great for cooling down the ambient temperature.

We see everything through a haze - and enjoy the fact that we don't need emergency procedures for the heat. The lifeguards can't even see much beyond the first waves.

The New BL Nature Trail

While I was gone our walk to the beach at 12th Street became part of the new Barnegat Light Nature Trail. There are several wayside information plaques detailing the flora, fauna and history of the area, and the boardwalk has been extended to help tired trekkers.

The maritime forest is filling in the area behind the large dunes.

And new fencing - to keep the wanderers off the dunes - has been installed to accompany the traditioal "snow" fence which contains the sand.

At the top of the large dunes there is a turn-around, observation point between 12th and 13th Streets with larger exhibits - including some history of ship wrecks and battles on the local beaches.

We´re Back

Randy and I arrived back on the Island on July 1st. We left behind the Venezuelan tropics, a nation spiraling down into a would-be communist dictatorship, and came back to a relatively cool ( at least to us) beach town gearing up for summer and the celebration of over 230 years of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Its a macro shift in sensibilities. All I have to do is look out the front door to know we're not in Maracaibo anymore.

This is a brightly colored bloom from my front yard in Maracaibo. They come and go quickly and the yard is often adorned in different colors from one day to the next ...fuschia, purple, yellow and orange.

Here in Barnegat Light things don't change as much. I come back to the same conservative evergreens, hollies and Black-eyed Susans.

Yet - you just have to look back to my Mosaic piece in this blog last September to see how the flowers have progressed.

We're still settling in and getting our bearings, but looking forward to a wonderful summer. We'll keep you posted.